Home / Quotes / Quote by George Saunders

Quote by George Saunders

“As a young kid I assumed that everybody was sort of on the same wavelength as I was and then I found out in a lot of small ways that that wasn't the case. It's sort of a mixed blessing. My mind is like a puppy. It goes all over. I guess writing fiction was a way of harnessing that. I could hook a puppy up to a treadmill and get something out of it.”

Quote by George Saunders

Author

George Saunders

George Saunders, born on December 2, 1958, is an American writer known for his unique humor and profound insights. His works, primarily short stories, have gained widespread recognition and have been honored with numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. more

You May Also Like

“I actually believe that a lot of what people call originality has to do with persistence in the craft.”

People Believe Crafts Persistence Originality

Author:George Saunders

“My mind has an obsessive, neurotic quality, but I also have a very hard work ethic. I know that a lot of people think, oh, you have a wild imagination. I don't, really. If ten people are sitting around and someone says, "Hey complete this sentence in a funny way," I'm never ahead of the pack.”

People Ifs Thinking Knows Way Mind Hard Imagination Quality Hard Work Ten Ethics Sitting Sentences Hey Packs Work Ethic Neurotic Obsessive Sitting Around Wild Imagination

Author:George Saunders

“Whether you're eighteen or sixty, in a certain way, whatever you know is valid.”

Knows Way Certain Sixty Eighteen

Author:George Saunders

“The switch that I'd like to throw on is the one that says, "Look, you're a human being whose mind is every bit as active as anybody else's. Your experiences are just as real." For that matter, even if they're even if they're crazy, they're valid. They occurred in this world so they're valid topics for literature.”

Ifs World Mind Humans Looks Real Matter Literature Bits Human Beings Crazy This World Active Topics

Author:George Saunders

“I think the path for a young writer might be one that says, "I have to accept myself, this is what I am. I can't eradicate my defects. I can work on them."”

Thinking I Can Might Young Accepting Path Defects Young Writers

Author:George Saunders

“When you do something that's going to speak to people, it's going to be because you're really allowing all of yourself to the table in an accepting way.”

People Way Speak Accepting Tables Allowing

Author:George Saunders

“If you have a friend, what's the best way you can experience her beauty? It's to really accept her. She's weird in this way, I accept it. She's hard to talk to, I accept it. Then that person eventually will come all the way out into the sun. I think it's the same way with our talent. We say, "Look, I'm not going to judge you. I'm going to try to use you in the very best way."”

Ifs Thinking Way Trying Looks Persons Hard Use Accepting Sun Talent Judging Best Way Her Beauty

Author:George Saunders

“If you're going to make an emotional connection with somebody, whether it's in the story or in the world, there's a certain amount of self-acceptance that is required.”

Ifs World Self Stories Certain Acceptance Emotional Amount Connections Self Acceptance Emotional Connection

Author:George Saunders

“I think about how I conceptualize the audience. The trick is that they've got to be smarter and more worldly than me. So as I'm revising, I'm keeping that in mind. I cannot condescend, even a little bit. Every single choice that I make is motivated by that.”

Thinking Mind Littles Choices Bits Audience Little Bit Tricks Motivated Smarter Worldly Revising

Author:George Saunders

“When you talk about a reader being emotionally moved, a feeling of empathy, I think that comes out of that line-by-line respect for reader. That's actually where it all comes from.”

Thinking Feelings Lines Reader Empathy Moved

Author:George Saunders